The Unexpected Twist
Painful Music Games

Nora looked at her father with hateful eyes. The girl could not bear to see the man laughing like a teenager who had just fallen in love. Did he not realize that he had already destroyed their family? Does he not care about his feelings and his mother? Nora turned her gaze to the guitar on her lap. He started picking the strings gently, creating a sad and melodic melody. He also sang lyrics that fit his heart.

Satria, his father, stopped his phone call. He heard a guitar from the family room. He walked there with a calm face. He saw Nora sitting on the couch, playing the guitar. He smiled and approached her.

“Hey, dear, how are you?” he asked in a friendly manner.

Nora did not answer. He continued to play the guitar, as if there was no one else in the room.

Satria did not mind. He sat down next to Nora and grabbed the guitar from her hand. He started playing different songs, cheerful and carefree pop songs.

“Why do you keep playing that song? The song was too sad to sing at home,” he interrupted with a singing tone.

“That's because you alone don't understand,” Nora replied cynically.

Satria ignored her daughter's innuendo. He continued to play guitar and sing. He was happy to be able to do this again after such a long time. He had forgotten what it was like to have fun in a positive way. He hasn't touched this instrument in a long time.

Household assistants who saw this incident could only shake their heads. They knew that Nora and Satria did not get along. They know that Nora hates Satria because of the affair as well as the abusive nature of the father that makes her mother always sad. They know that Satria is trying to approach Nora in the wrong ways. They chose to move away from the conflict between the child and the father.

Nora looked at Satria with anger. He saw the man playing the guitar cheerfully, as if there were no problems in this world. He felt that there was a caterpillar crawling in his heart. Then, he remembered his happy childhood. The time where her mother was still by her side, gave her affection and attention. Satria is still a good father, who always takes time for him and invites him to play music together. The time where Satria is still his idol and role model.

Now, everything has changed. There was no longer a warm and harmonious family for him. There was only a cold and quiet house. There's only a selfish, jerky Satria.

“Borrow.” Nora said loudly, patting Satria's hand holding the guitar.

“Can't, you should call me Daddy first new I love this guitar.” Satria refused jokingly, hiding the guitar behind her body.

Nora took a long breath. He actually did not want to call Satria Father, because he felt that man did not deserve the title. But he needs a guitar for practice tomorrow. Tomorrow is the first day she becomes a mentor to her extracurricular music class sister.

“Dad, please love that guitar.” Nora asked for it.

Satria smiled with satisfaction and gave the guitar to Nora.

“Thank you, Father.” Nora said flatly.

In the living room, there were two people who were silent to each other without speaking. They both have different feelings. Satria was happy to be able to interact with her daughter, even if only briefly. Nora feels annoyed to have to deal with her father, even if only for a short while.

...****************...

The next day, Nora takes her favorite guitar to school. He walked down the corridor proudly. Many of the underclassmen were looking at him in admiration. He's headed to his classroom. His classmates were immediately excited when they saw Nora carrying a guitar.

“Wah, Nora bring another guitar!”

“Long time no see playing guitar, Nor!”

“We have to exclaim today, yuk!”

"Nora, you bring the guitar again? I want to see dong!" His classmate said as he approached Nora.

“Lo dapet guitar from where, anyway? How good is it?” his classmates asked curiously.

“From my father.” Nora answered briefly.

“Wow, your father is very good, yes. I just ask the same guitar bokap I am not given.” His classmates commented enviously.

Nora just smiled faintly and shook her head. He did not want to discuss his father further. He knew that his father was not as good a man as his friends thought.

The entrance bell rang, and all the disciples rushed towards the sports field. They all carried blue sapphire sports uniforms with white stripes on their arms and necks. Nora also followed them with pleasure, until she heard that they were going to learn football today. He prefers basketball or volleyball to football.

“Nora, are you still with him? I told you he was no good for Lo.” Giselle said as she massaged the shoulders of Nora, her best friend.

Nora just shook her head slowly. He did not want to argue with Giselle about it anymore. She pulled Giselle's hand to change clothes immediately. The two of them laughed as they stepped towards the bathroom. But, accidentally, they hit a schoolgirl who was carrying books that fell scattered on the floor.

Nora immediately helped the student pick up her books. He apologized politely for the incident. As he looked at the student's face, he was shocked. He knew.

“Thank you, Brother Nora.” The student said with a sweet smile.

“Sama-sama. Sorry, yes, I have to go first.” Nora answered in a hurry. She pulled Giselle's hand and ran away from the student.

The student was a tenth grader who had taken care of Ervin, a guy who had recently been close to Nora. The girl seems to recognize Nora, but Nora does not know who she is. Nora felt something strange with Rani's smile. Does he know anything?

...****************...

They exercise as usual. Nothing special, just warm-ups, kick drills and group play. Occasionally there were shouts and bickers between the losing and winning groups. This has become commonplace for students.

Nora and Giselle go to the cafeteria with some other classmates. They brought Nora's guitar, at the request of her friends. Some of the other students are still playing football.

“Nih, guitar. Don't play around, yeah. This is my favorite guitar!” Nora said as she placed the guitar on the canteen table. He went out to buy drinks and bread for breakfast.

The incident did not escape the sight of Ervin who was sitting with Giovanni in the corner of the field. They sat in a place a little far away from Nora and her friends. Ervin couldn't help but notice Nora. He was fascinated by the girl.

“Bang, I just found out that Kak Nora is good at playing guitar.” Ervin said as he turned to Giovanni.

“Yes, he is the head of extracurricular music this year. In the tenth grade, he participated in FLS2N song creation competition and won champion one. I was shocked at that time.” Giovanni explained while nodding.

Ervin was amazed by Nora. He felt that the girl was very great and talented. But, she also felt inferior and hesitated to approach him. How not, Nora is the son of a rich man with many achievements.

“But you don't have to worry anyway, even though that person is not arrogant like that crazy girl.” Giovanni added that shrugging his shoulders looked insulting to his own younger brother.

"Hmm, yeah. But I still doubt." Ervin muttered as he looked at Nora who was laughing with his friends.

Nora is playing guitar and singing with her friends in the cafeteria. He forgot all his problems for a moment. He forgot Ervin who was the victim of violence but did not dare to reveal it. He's forgotten about a girl who might know something about Ervin. He forgets Satria who tried to be a father to him but failed miserably. He just wants to enjoy music and friendship. He just wants to be happy.